Raymond Keene vs Gert Ligterink (1981)

Raymond Keene vs Gert Ligterink
Lloyds Bank Masters 1981 · Nimzo-Indian Defense: Huebner Variation. Main Line (E41) · 1-0

[Event "Lloyds Bank Masters"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1981.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Raymond Keene"]
[Black "Gert Ligterink"]
[ECO "E41"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "110"]

1. d4 { Notes by Raymond Keene. } Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 d6 8. e4 e5 9. h3 {I
was impressed by Portisch's play against Miles from the IBM
tournament earlier in the year, so I decided to try it for
myself.} 9...h6 10. Qe2 Qc7 {Black prepares to castle
queenside. Another possibility is the immediate 10...b6.}
11. dxc5 {A major decision, since White's doubled c-pawns now
look very sick. However, White does now have time to direct
his knight towards d5, which he does not have after the
premature 9 dxc5.} 11...dxc5 12. Nh2 {In some ways a
surprising move, but the knight is en route to the dominating
square d5. } 12...b6 13. Nf1 Ba6 14. Ne3 O-O-O 15. Nd5 Qd7 {Of
course Black does not capture voluntarily on d5. He hopes, in
the long run, to annex White's pawn on c4.} 16. O-O Ne8
17. Rb1 Qe6 18. f4 f6 19. f5 Qd6 {After 19...Qf7 White can
launch a powerful attack with moves like 20 Rb3 followed by
Ra3, Be3 and Rb1. There are many sacrificial possibilities
against a black knight on a5 or pawn on c5. 19...Qd6, though
forced, temporarily blocks the journey of Black's king's
knight to this desirable square.} 20. Be3 {Even here a
possible improvement is 20 Rb3 Na5 21 Ra3 planning an exchange
sacrifice on a5, followed by a concerted attack on c5 based on
moves such as Be3 and Qf2.} 20...Na5 21. Rb2 Rd7 22. Rfb1 Rb7
23. a4 Rf8 24. Kh1 Rff7 25. Bg1 Rfd7 26. Be3 Rd8 27. Ra2 Qd7
28. Kh2 Nd6 {If Black indulges in the preparatory 28...Kb8,
intending ...Ka8 and ...Rb8, White does not need to mark time
but could thrust forward his kingside pawns.} 29. Rb5 {! An
exchange offer to blunt Black's pressure against the
c4-pawn. An added bonus is the opening of the a-file.}
29...Bxb5 30. axb5 Kb8 31. Ra3 Rc8 32. Qa2 Qf7 {? Overlooking
a fresh exchange sacrifice which disables Black's
position. Correct is 32...Qd8.} 33. Rxa5 {!} bxa5 34. Qxa5 Qf8
{There is no time to sit on this volcanic position. 34...g6!
is forced.} 35. Qa6 Ne8 {An improvement is 35...Rd7 36 Qa3 Nb7
37 Be2 Qf7! although at this point it is not so easy to grasp
that Be2-h5 must be stopped.} 36. Qa3 Qd6 37. Be2 {! On
material criteria alone Black is 28 points to 25 points ahead,
and should win. But White's sacrifices have turned a static
situation into a dynamic one, and have also unbalanced Black's
mental equilibrium. Now the threat of Bh5 suddenly leaves
Black hamstrung. Ligterink now decides to jettison excess
baggage.} 37...Ka8 38. Bh5 Nc7 39. Bxc5 39...Nxb5 40. Bxd6
Nxa3 41. Bxa3 Rxc4 {After the game Ligterink preferred
41...a5.} 42. Bb4 Rxe4 43. Bf3 Rc4 44. Ne3 e4 {? A time
pressure error. Correct is 44...Rcc7, with drawing chances.}
45. Nxc4 exf3 46. g4 Rd7 47. Kg3 Rd3 48. Kf2 Kb7 49. Ne3 Kb6
50. Kxf3 Kb5 {If 50...a5 51 Ke4! wins.} 51. Ke4 Rd7 52. Nc2 a5
53. Nd4+ Kb6 54. Ba3 a4 55. c4 {The sudden turn of events left
Black stunned. My opponent could not cope with the quick-fire
changes from an apparent technical win to a running
battle. 'In accordance with an earlier decree the tie between
Keene, Seirawan and Miles also had to be resolved. Finally
recourse had to be made to SOS and on this second count Ray
Keene came out ahead and was duly declared the Lloyds Bank
Master for 1981.' (BCM).} 1-0

To move:

Last move:

Annotations by Raymond Keene. [404 more games annotated by Keene]

explore this opening	find similar games	1 more Keene/G Ligterink game
sac: 29.Rb5	PGN: download \| view	Help: general \| java-troubleshooting

TIP: You should register a free account to activate some of Chessgames.com's coolest and most powerful features.

For help with this chess viewer, please see the Pgn4web Quickstart Guide.

May-06-05		Milo: The double rook sac mentioned in today's problem.

May-06-05		caballos2: What if Black refuses to take the rook on move 29? I know alternatives are very difficult, but still...

May-06-05		Madman99X: That game leaves the kibitzer flabergasted. I don't know whether to cheer, or just sit here slack-jawed. I think I shall study this game in the morning, because tonight, my brain is full.

May-06-05		JohnBoy: I'm glad the puzzle of the day (J L Arnason vs Keene, 1981) references this. A fine example of how to play the white side. Now I will go look up the Portisch-Miles game! Great job, Ray!

May-06-05		Zymurgy: Yeah, this is a great game. Good thing the puzzle of the day did reference like you said. Stopping pressure against c4 with an exchange sac..who'd a thunk it? I like the way this guy plays. Is he still playing?

Nov-22-05		KingG: Yes, very nice game.

Oct-30-06		Autoreparaturwerkbau: Mr. Keene considers this game one of his best 10 played. That fact speaks for itself.

Times Chess Twitter Feed

NOTE: You need to pick a username and password to post a reply. Getting your account takes less than a minute, totally anonymous, and 100% free--plus, it entitles you to features otherwise unavailable. Pick your username now and join the chessgames community!

If you already have an account, you should login now.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
No spamming, advertising, or duplicating posts.
No personal attacks against other users.
Nothing in violation of United States law.

See something which violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform an administrator.

NOTE: Keep all discussion on the topic of this page. This forum is for this specific game and nothing else. If you want to discuss chess in general, or this site, you might try the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.

Spot an error? Please submit a correction slip and help us eliminate database mistakes!
This game is type: CLASSICAL (Disagree? Please submit a correction slip.)

Featured in the Following Game Collections [what is this?]

"Saving a difficult situation" - Samurai Chess p157 (Jan 2008)
from Instructive chess games by trumvirvel

ice lemon tea's favorite games
by ice lemon tea

Keene al Sam C Pp 149=151
from Inverted Rook's favorite games by Inverted Rook

Ray Keene's Best Games
by KingG

turning the game around!
from CREATIVE ATTACKS (combination games) by marknierras

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nf3
from Nimzo-Indian, Rubinstein Variation by KingG